The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-01-30


There is no positively sure way to on-
literate the unsuitable persons and
places, except TO tax every man who car
ries on the liquor business, so large a
sum that the proprietOrs of the dives
cannot afford to pay the levy, and will
consequently be driven out of the field.
If the sale of strong drink could he
stopped in toto, that would, beyond all
cayiI, be the one and only thing to do,
but no sane man, be he political Prohibit
ZIONIST or otherwise, believes that any
such result can be accomplished. Among
others, there are two obviOns and cOnclu-
sive reasons why it cannot.
l. There are many purposes for which
liquor must of necessity be made and
sold. SO evident is this, that in prohi-
bition States and nO-license towns,
agents are appointed to sell on behalf of
the very community which has voted to
prohibit ;ibut nothing short of omniscient
power can control such sales, so that a
medicinal purchase shall not be vitiated
by tipping use
,. So vefy large proportion of the
people wish to drink liquor to some ex-
tent, that it is a mathematical absurdity
for the prOportionally small remainder
to govern the desires of their numerous
neighbors by legislation.
But, to return for a moment to my fifth
proposition. 1t is equally true that al
most the entire population are abstainers
to the point that they do not become
vicious citizens, either in public or pri-
waite life. All such people will join
hands with hearty good will, to enforce
a law which aimed squarely az the
viciousness and brutality of the few,
without at the same time endeavoring to
curtail the supposed rights of the many.
Ii the poll could be taken, there would
be no doubt that the vote would be prac
ticalIy unanimous in favor of a law which
all could be satisfied would lead towards
a reduction to minimum of the evils
have specified.
After a careful survey OF the fl, Id.
there seems To be but one law that con
tains all the necessary requirements. In
a word, the sensible remedy Is Il high re
strictive tax of, say, 81 900 upon the sale
of alcoholic drinks, and a low tax of say
$50 upon the sale Of malt liquors. The
details of such a law require careful
thought-much more careful than in the
press of my private business, i am able
to- give the matter, but | Will specify, in
"A crude way, a few of the ideas which |
consider it necessary To introduce into
such "A law, in order that it may have
vigOr and success.
The license for the sale of all liquors
except ale, lager been and choice wines
should be- 81 900.
>. The license fee for the sale of ale,
lager beer and Rhine wine should be $50.
3. There should he appointed sufii
Client and capable corps of State lnspec-
tors, who should act with police officers,
sheriffs and cOnstables, and whose duty
il should be, in co operation with such
officers, to- visit every licensed place at
least once a week and search out and re-
port all viOlatOrS of the law.
t. There should be most stringent and
definite provisions in relation to the Sun
day law; the sale of adulterated liquors;
the sale 10 drunkards, minors and those
whose wives or families have notified the
authorities that they are abused or not
properly supported by reason of the
drinking habits of husband or father.
). If an inspector or other regular
officer demands a sample of liquors from
licensed person, and IT is refused. such
refusal should be made imperatIveIy the
basis for a reyOkal of the license.
g. In cases where A licensed person
has been once bound over bv an inferior
court, and Is discovered violating the law
a second time, he should he brought at
once before some appointed tribunal, and
if such tribunal find that the law has
been violated, such persons license
should be at once revoked, and he be for
ever incapacitated from selling liquor in
this State. And further, the place i'm
which he had been selling should be- con-
demned, and never be used for the sale of
liquor thereafter.
Note The latter provisions in this sect on
seem to he the moot important in the whole
I'tN anu touth re lIcortofa Z" as cpndItlph-
should be made between the STAT. the liquor
Ter and the owner of the proper where
the liquor IS sold.
&, i a
place where selling iSgOing on, should
be contiscated.
s. Satisfactory bonds should be given
by the licensed persons, large enough to
cover all possible damage, which he
might do by an infraCtlOn of law, and
in case the license should be revoked,
the bond should be forfeited and the
amount thereof paid to the State.
These suggestions are far from COM
plete. but would furnish a guide frop'
which a law, containing the central idea
which l advocate should be devised.
Such a law must be direct and forcible
in its terms, and so plain that he who
runs MAY read. The enforcement must
be equally forcible, and the State should
furnish, without any question as to the
expense, sufficient power TO enforce it.
My claims for such law hri. fly are:
l. That it would nIeet with general
approval, and the best sense of every
community would ask for It's strict en-
fOrcement.
> IL would largely reduce tine number
of liquor sellers; public and official gaze
could be concentrated upon the reduced
number, and it would be far easier to re-
strict them to their legitimate business.
3. 1t " Ould put a heavy sanction up
on those who should pay so large tax
To conduct their business properly. The
fear of losing the money invested would
teEd To restrain them within lawful
bounds.
/. The drinking of malt liquors would
be stimulated at the expense of the
stronger liquors, and in so far as the for
mer took the place of the latter. there
would be a substitution of comparatively
harmless for Aen rigorous beverage.
>. 1t would make il necessary for